AN apologetic robber has gone on a three-day crime spree in a stolen car — often bungling his desperate attempts to steal cash — in Melbourne’s northwestern suburbs.

Police have released images of a man they wish to speak to following a series of criminal offences being reported involving the same car.

The man’s escapade began last Wednesday when he demanded the keys to a woman’s grey 2010 Nissan 370z coupe convertible as she parked in a car park on Gladstone St in Moonee Ponds about 8.30am.

The shaken victim obliged and the thief fled in her car.

Later that day, about 3.10pm, a woman told police she was loading shopping into her car at a shopping centre in Maribyrnong when the Nissan approached.

She said a man got out of the car and attempted to strike her but missed.

He then snatched her handbag from her shoulder and drove off.

A computer generated image of a man police want to speak to.

Seven hours later, a man in the stolen vehicle struck again when, armed with what appeared to be a wrench, he attempted to burgle a fast food restaurant in Flemington by crawling through the unoccupied window in its drive-through facility and grab a register.

For two minutes, he tried every which way to pull the register out of the service window, but his attempts were foiled as the till was too big for the gap.

He soon gave up and once again escaped in the convertible down Racecourse Rd.

The following day the car was parked on Gordon St in Maribyrnong and the driver entered a hair salon demanding money from the cash register about 2.45pm.

After being told by a female worker there was no money, the clumsy crook tried to steal a handbag but left empty-handed.

The woman told detectives the man said “I’m sorry” to her as he walked out.

In another daring daylight incident targeting a hairdressing salon, the driver, wearing gloves and with his face wrapped in a black jumper, entered a salon on Woodland St in Essendon and stole cash from the register about midday on Friday.

The stolen vehicle was located about 5.20pm on Saturday in a car park behind flats on Victoria St, Flemington.

Anyone with information about the man’s identity or who witnessed any of the offences is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.